Man attacked fire truck, paramedics, police say

Published: Sunday, February 3, 2013 at 7:29 p.m.

Last Modified: Sunday, February 3, 2013 at 7:29 p.m.

A Gainesville man was arrested Sunday morning after pounding on the hood of a fire truck and punching an off-duty paramedic in the head.

According to a Gainesville Police Department report, Preston Porter Calkins, 24, ran into the road at 300 S Main Street in front of a fire truck that was responding to a call for service around 1 a.m. Calkins pounded on the hood of the truck, mounted the side running boards and cussed at the paramedics inside.

Police said Calkins, who lives in the 3200 block of NW 83rd Street, was “extremely intoxicated.”

An off-duty paramedic who was driving by in his truck stopped at the scene and rolled down his window to check on the paramedics. Calkins charged at the open truck window, cussed at the man and punched him multiple times in the back of the head until the on-duty paramedics subdued him.

Calkins was arrested on charges of assault and battery during burglary.

<p>A Gainesville man was arrested Sunday morning after pounding on the hood of a fire truck and punching an off-duty paramedic in the head.</p><p>According to a Gainesville Police Department report, Preston Porter Calkins, 24, ran into the road at 300 S Main Street in front of a fire truck that was responding to a call for service around 1 a.m. Calkins pounded on the hood of the truck, mounted the side running boards and cussed at the paramedics inside.</p><p>Police said Calkins, who lives in the 3200 block of NW 83rd Street, was “extremely intoxicated.”</p><p>An off-duty paramedic who was driving by in his truck stopped at the scene and rolled down his window to check on the paramedics. Calkins charged at the open truck window, cussed at the man and punched him multiple times in the back of the head until the on-duty paramedics subdued him.</p><p>Calkins was arrested on charges of assault and battery during burglary.</p>